The objective of the leadership academies is to create a state-wide alliance among, public health, mental health, tobacco control, and addiction treatment departments. These groups will be charged with producing an action plan that will promote smoke-free living and reduce smoking rates among behavioral health consumers and staff in each state selected.

Become a Partner

To get the latest updates on what’s happening nationally or in North Carolina, please join our google group! This listserv will be dedicated to providing information related to tobacco use prevention and cessation for behavioral health consumers and staff. More information to come……..

Why This Initiative is So Important

44.3% of all cigarettes consumed are by people with mental and substance use disorders

50% of all smokers will die as a result of smoking — including those with mental and substance use disorders.

70% of the general population wants to quit – people with behavioral health conditions have an equal interest.

Smoking is the biggest killer of people with behavioral health problems.

A project of the Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse. Funded in part by the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Fund(CFDA #93.959) as a project of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities & Substance Abuse Services.